Valerie Paredes

Dr. Valerie Paredes has a deep passion for the counseling profession, mental health advocacy, and the opportunities that college readiness can provide. This passion is rooted in her drive to facilitate student achievement. Dr. Paredes believes that both students and adults, regardless of background, deserves the opportunity to succeed, and she dedicates her career to breaking down barriers that prevent access to a profitable education. As a first-generation college graduate with 22 years of experience, she has worked with a diverse range of individuals, including K-12 students, non-traditional college students, individuals with disabilities, and adjudicated juveniles. Her inspiration to become a counselor stemmed from her work with the Texas Youth Commission and Texas State Technical College.

Dr. Paredes’s educational career spans eleven years as an Academic Counselor at Harlingen High School South, where she also served as Head Counselor for seven years before joining UTRGV Harlingen Collegiate High during its inaugural year in 2022. A proud product of the HCISD school system, she earned her B.S. in Criminal Justice from The University of Texas-Pan American, a Master’s in Education in Guidance and Counseling from The University of Texas at Brownsville, and a Ph.D. in Rehabilitation Counseling from The University of Texas-Pan American.

Her research focuses on college students' perceptions, schizophrenia, stigma, acculturation, and substance abuse along the South Texas/Mexican border. Her research has had tremendous impact on her career which directly informs her counseling practice, enabling her to provide tailored support to both students and adults from marginalized backgrounds. Dr. Paredes has presented at the 2011 National Council on Rehabilitation Education (NCRE) National Conference and has been published in The Journal of Alcohol and Drug Education. She was honored as the RGV Lead’s Counselor of the Year at the 2013 RGV Lead Regional Conference and was the recipient of a Harlingen Area Educational Foundation grant in 2024.

Dr. Paredes is a dedicated community advocate, volunteering with PSS - College Bound to help Rio Grande Valley students achieve their college goals. She also serves as Social Media Coordinator for Harlingen United FC, a non-profit community soccer league, where she strengthens local ties through sports. Her work reflects a deep commitment to enriching and empowering her community. Dr. Paredes has served as an adjunct professor at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, teaching undergraduate and master’s level courses in the Rehabilitation Counseling program and master’s level courses in the Guidance and Counseling program. She has also been an adjunct professor in the Master of Arts in Counseling program at Our Lady of the Lake University. In her teaching, she is dedicated to mentoring future counselors, advancing the field of counseling, and advocating for building a culture of social and emotional well-being.

Dr. Paredes continues to dedicate herself to advancing mental health awareness and college readiness, empowering the next generation of leaders.